Love and Unity
(John 17:20 - 23) I pray not only for them, but also for
those who will believe in me through their word, so that they
may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that
they may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the
glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I
in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection
as one, that the world mat know that you sent me, and that you
loved them even as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to
me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, because
you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous
Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and
they know that you sent me. I made known to them your name
and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved
me may be in them and I in them.
Although perfectly joined to the Father, Jesus remained at all times the obedient
and loving Son.
The central motif of the prayer is that of unity - unity of present and future disciples.
This unity is modeled on that of Father and Son.
This is a union that takes root from the love of Father and Son that in verse 26 is
gifted to all of us.
This prayer of Christ is realized today in the marvelous oneness which exists within
his Church.
It is a oneness which is present amid a remarkable diversity.
Constitution on the Church 13 It follows that among all
the nations of the earth there is but one people of God,
which takes its citizens from every race, making them
citizens of a kingdom which is of a heavenly and not
of an earthly nature.
The members of Christ live in all the various countries of the world.
They belong to every race on earth.
They are both male and female.
They speak different languages.
They have different cultures, different tastes and different political opinions.
But they are one in the great unity of the Body of Christ.
There are, however, millions of men and women who love Christ and worship him
as their Savior and their God, who are separated from the unity of the Body
of Christ.
The prayer for unity among his members is a prayer also for union with his Body.
What do we mean when we say that the Church is one?
who rules the Body through the visible Head, our Holy Father the Pope,
and the bishops who are in communion with him.
Julian of Norwich once said, "He showed me a little thing, the size
of a hazel nut, in the palm of his hand, and it was as round
as a ball.
I looked at it with my mind's eye and I thought, "What can this be?"
And the answer came, " It is all that is made."
I marvelled that it might have crumbled to nothing, it was so small.
It came to my mind that it lasts and ever shall because God loves it.
And all these things exist through the love of God.
In this little thing I saw three truths, the first is God made it.
The second is that God loves it.
The third is that God looks after it.
What is he indeed that is maker and lover and keeper?
I cannot find words to tell.
For until I am one with him I can never have true rest nor peace.
I can never know it until I am held so close to him that there is
nothing in between.
(from Womanspirit by Susan Muto)
We know God is our creator and that he created all things from a void.
We know that he created us in his image.
We also know that he keeps us safe and that not even a hair on our head is
disturbed without him knowing it.
God loves us and sustains us in his love.
The way we actually know of God's eternal love is that he sent Jesus to live with
us, to inhabit the same world with us as a human being, as a member of our
family.
Christ offers redemption to all of humankind and in doing so, gives us hope for new
life and a reason for wholehearted unity.
Love was used in the Old Testament much like it is used today.
In general, it signifies a voluntary attachment (good or evil) to things and persons.
The person may be one's spouse or child, friend, neighbor or master.
Love is the sentiment which Yahweh has for Israel.
It is the band by which he draws his people to himself.
Deutoronomy 4:37 For love of your fathers he chose their descendants and
personally led you out of Egypt by his great power.
Deuteronomy 7:13 He will love and bless and multiply you.
Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart,
and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 11:1 Love the Lord, your God, and always heed his charge, his
statutes and his decrees and his commandments.
In the Old Testament there are several passages which speak of the connection
between love and observance of God's commandments.
In the New Testament one finds the word philia which signifies primarily the love of
friends.
The word agape was used to signify the Christian idea of love.
Jesus identifies the great commandment in the Gospels as love of God and neighbor
(see Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28)
Jesus' command is for us to love our neighbors as we do ourselves, even our enemies,
to love God above everything else, and that our love for Jesus must be greater
than even the love for our family.
Paul taught that husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the Church (see
Ephesians 5:25).
That all things work together for good to those who love God (see Romans 8:28).
He also taught that Christians live in an atmosphere of love - of God for his people
and his people for God and neighbor.
Love builds the Christian community and is the foundation and root of the Christian
life.
John taught (see John 14:15-23) love is demonstrated by keeping the commandments
of God and Jesus.
He also taught (see John 3:16-17) that whoever believes in Him has eternal life.
Through love for one another we can be certain that God dwells in us and brings his
love to perfection.
Love is a mutual, all-embracing, unifying force.
